This week in gluttony

Tacos top the 8 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

An inaugural taco fest happens in Irving this week.

Irving Taco Festival

Tacos and margs are on the menu this week with two simultaneous festivals offering both. (One is 21 and up and one is family-friendly.) Gal pals with a passion for plants get a girls night out at a garden shop complete with chef bites and wine. Don't miss a preview pop-up of a new Dallas restaurant opening later this summer, plus a chance for $1 cookies and drinks from one of Dallas' most beloved bakeries.

Monday, June 1

Odd Muse Brewing New Beer Debut and Glass Giveaway
Award-winning local craft beer brewer will debut the release of its new summer beer with a "keep the glass" giveaway at its Farmers Branch location. The beer is a Strawberry Lager, which they say "smells like if someone planted tangerine trees in a strawberry field." The festivities begin at 6 pm and anyone who orders the lager gets a collectible 16-oz. Strawberry Hustle Nordic Cooler Glass while supplies last. (They'll host the same event at their Plano location on June 8.)

Tuesday, June 2

JD Chippery’s One-Year Anniversary
The longtime family-owned Dallas bakery is throwing a birthday party to mark one year at its Preston Royal location. Visit all day from 7 am-5 pm for $1 cookies (limit six) and from 12-2 pm for $1 drinks like house-brewed sweet tea, scratch lemonade, and limeades with fresh lime served in a collectible cup. There’ll also be an interactive photo booth and face painting from 12-2 pm.

Friday, June 5

Girls Night at Green Acres Nursery & Supply
The Melissa gardening and outdoor living store will host its first-ever girls night out – and it’s completely free. Guests can enjoy live cooking demos and complimentary barbecue bites from local celeb chef Noah Hester; free red, white, and sparkling wine from a wine trailer; live music; a bonfire with s’mores; raffle prizes; and event-day offers on patio furniture and more. The event takes place 6-8:30 pm.

Saturday, June 6

Irving Taco Festival
This inaugural taco and margarita fest will take place at the Toyota Music Factory with market vendors, live entertainment, yard games, and photo ops. Hosted by the International Margarita Organization, the event is free to attend but patrons can purchase a $25 VIP ticket for early entry, commemorative glass, and two complimentary drinks. The event will run from 4-11 pm, with VIP entry at noon. All ages welcome.

Frisco Margarita Festival
Sample 10 different margaritas from bars and restaurants around Frisco then vote for your favorite during this marg party taking place at Rollertown Beerworks. Tickets start at $43 for entry at 3 pm, with VIP tickets granting early entry at noon for $54. Tickets include one raffle entry to win a trip to Mexico. There’ll also be live DJ music, a beer garden, and street food vendors. The festival runs until 6 pm. Ages 21 and up only.

Midcult Society Pop-Up Dinner at Overeasy
The retro diner inside The Statler will host a pop-up dinner by Mike Stites and Evan Pemberton, the duo behind Midcult Society, which is set to open later this summer in Exposition Park. The a la carte menu will feature charbroiled oysters with Oaxaca queso and chorizo butter, coconut buttermilk biscuits with uni butter and ember honey, Viet-Cajun caramelized prawns, half chicken with hot sauce and citrus jus, and more. The dinner is reservation only from 5-10 pm. Email jamie@midcultsociety.com.

Shinsei After Dark
This 20th anniversary event benefiting the Texas Restaurant Foundation Relief Fund will have a Roaring Twenties theme this year, complete with classic cocktails and a costume contest to win a $200 gift card. Drinks and bites are included in the $100 ticket price, and the party will run from 9 pm-midnight.

Sunday, June 7

Steak Night at Easy Slider
The Dallas slider joint will cook up steaks for one night at its 3905 E. Side Ave. location. The special will include tots and asparagus plus salad and dessert for $48. The deal is sponsored by Maker’s Mark Whiskey, and there’ll be $6 Maker’s Mark old fashioneds for pairing. Available from 5-9 pm.

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Teresa Gubbins contributed to this story.

chefs dinner tacos food events

outta this world

Cowboys superfan launches pizzeria with Tex-Mex twist in Dallas food hall

Photo courtesy of Starboy's

Check out the cheese pull on Starboy's birria pizza.

A new pizza restaurant is slinging a variety of innovative pies in the Dallas Medical District: Called Starboy’s Pizzeria, the new shop is part of Food Nation Cinco Cocinas, the eclectic food hall at 4711 Maple Ave. The food hall was created by Ray Quintanilla and legendary restaurateur and "Godfather of Dallas Tex-Mex" Mico Rodriguez, who died earlier this month at age 68.

John Flores, an IT professional and self-proclaimed Dallas Cowboys super-fan, created Starboy’s Pizzeria, which is now open in the former Sal’s Pizza and Restaurant space. Friends call Flores by the nickname "Starboy," which combines his love for the Cowboys and his fascination with NASA and space, he explains.

Flores met Quintanilla and Rodriguez while hosting karaoke at Mico’s Bar, another food hall occupant. When Sal’s closed earlier this year, they saw an opportunity to fill the void with a refreshed pizza concept.

“It is because of Mico that I even thought about starting this project: he was part of this, he was always happy, and we really hit it off, so I miss him,” Flores says.

Starboy's Pizzeria joins Mico’s Bar, Picazo Sushi and Poke, Wing City, and JJ’s Cafe, which opened a location in the food hall earlier this year.

Lupe Ibarra, a chef from the closed Sal’s Pizza with 25 years of experience, stayed on at Starboy's to continue perfecting traditional recipes while creating signature new ones tied to Flores’ Mexican heritage.

The result of the collaboration is a menu that includes traditional favorites alongside creative pies with a Mexican-inspired twist like the Pizza Birria (resembling the flavor profile of popular birria tacos), elotero, chicken fajitas, and pastor, among more than 15 specialty offerings.

Flores' passion for the Cowboys is especially evident in several unique creations:

Cry Eagles Cry: Inspired by the Philly cheesesteak, topped with beef, green peppers, onions, and mozzarella.
Starboy’s Classic (Blue): Red sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, sausage, and fresh arugula.
Starboy’s Classic (Silver): White sauce, chicken, mushrooms, onions, arugula, mozzarella, and a balsamic glaze.
Cowboy: Brisket, onions, barbecue sauce, and smoked gouda.

Starboy's 16-inch pizzas range from $14-$25, with individual slices priced around $4. The menu also features sub sandwiches, pastas with a variety of sauces, and chicken Parmesan, all under $14.

To cater to the busy medical, residential, and retail crowds nearby, Starboy's offers lunch deals for under $12, which include pasta and garlic knots or a slice of pizza and a salad, complete with a drink.

Flores explains that his heritage and his mother’s influence serve as the primary driving force behind his new venture.

“My mom would always host family gatherings. She always fed people, and I got that from her. I like to see smiles on people’s faces from the things I do,” he says. “I have big dreams for this place. I want us to be part of the community and give back.”

Flores remains involved with karaoke at Mico’s Bar and is focused on driving traffic to the entire complex. He hosts Cowboys watch parties, while his adult children — Nathan, Natalie, and Amy — assist with social media, website management, and overall promotion for Starboy’s.

“When people try our pizzas for the first time, their eyes light up, so we know we are on the right track,” Flores says.

Starboy’s Pizzeria is open daily from 11 am-10 pm.

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